60 charged in statewide insurance fraud sweep

Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced criminal charges against 60 Pennsylvanians following investigations by the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section.

Twenty-three people were charged in eastern Pennsylvania, 10 in central Pennsylvania and 27 in western Pennsylvania.

The charges are the result of a statewide sweep conducted by the Insurance Fraud Section during the months of September and October 2018. Since Attorney General Shapiro took office in January 2017, the Office of Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud section has charged 367 persons with insurance fraud cases.

The charges announced Friday involve some of the most common types of insurance fraud. All cases are still pending.

Among those charged was one man from Pottstown, Jermond Harper, 38, of the 700 block of Farmington Avenue. Harper is charged with theft by deception, insurance fraud, forgery and other charges. It is alleged that Harper filed a theft claim on November 13, 2017, claiming 18 items were stolen from his vehicle and submitted receipts for multiple mink coats and jackets valued at over $43,000 to support his claim, according to authorities.

“Insurance fraud is a serious crime that impacts consumers and policyholders across our Commonwealth,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “We will aggressively prosecute anyone who breaks the law by providing false information to an insurance company. When people commit insurance fraud, it causes premiums to rise for the folks who do follow the rules. It’s wrong, and we’re taking action to stop it.”